Body restraint for infants



21, 1948' H. 1. STRANDHAGEN 5 BODY RESTRAINT FOR INFANTS Filed Sept. 3,1946 INVENTOR. Amway Jr/m/m/mam Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED srA-r BODYRESTRAINT Fort. INFANTS Harry I. Strandhagen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as-

signor, *by mesne assignments, of one-half to Bassett ResearchCorporatioma corporation 'of Michigan Application September 3, 194d,Serial No. 694,470

This invention relates generally to garments for-infants and refers moreparticularly to improvements in restraining devices such asbabyharnesses.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to maintain an infant in a safeposition in a crib, bed, playpen or other confined area by providing aharness allowing substantial freedom of movement while, at the sametime, preventing the infant from climbing or falling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a harness whicheffectively retains .an infant on either its back or stomach andprevents crawling or sliding of the infant in any direction withoutappreciably restraining rolling of the infant. Actually the harnessenables re atively free rolling' of the infant in either directionthroughout approximately 80 and also allows unobstructed movement of thelegs and arms of the infant.

Thus, the harness enables maximum freedom of movement of an infant in abed, crib or similar confined area without permitting the infant toassume a dangerous position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a harness which whenused in connection with properly applied covers or blankets assuresrestraining an infant against any movement which would dislodge thecovers and cause exposure or which would result in strangulation orsmothering f the infant.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a combined garmentand harness capable of being readily applied to an infant with orwithout the usual rubber pants. In the event the infant is equipped withrubber pants, the

garment portion of the harness is applied over the rubber pants and neednot be made of a moisture-repellent material. On the other hand, ifrubber pants are not used, it is preferred to form the garment portionof moisture repellent material and to provide a pad of absorbentmaterial at the proper location on the garment portion.

A still further feature of this invention is to provide a combinedgarment and harness which is not only capable of being economicallymanufactured, and applied to both the infant and crib but, in addition,is of a design which may be comfortably worn by the infant.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a harness embodyingthe features of this invention applied to an infant and attached to aconventional crib;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the harness;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of harness;and

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the harness in Figure 3 appliedto an infant.

The infant harness shown in the several figends' of the latter.

restraining means II. The garment [0 has a waist-encircling portion l2,and has a portion l3 depending from the portion I2 intermediate the Theportion I2 is of sufficient length to encircle the waist of an infantand the free ends thereof are adapted to be pinned, clipped or otherwiseattached together. The depending portion [3 is adapted to be loopedbetween the legs of the infant and is of sufficient length to enable thefree end thereof to be fastened to the free ends of the waist-encirclingportion 1 2. In the present instance, the free ends of the waist portioni2 and the free 'end'of the depending portion I3 are fastened by safetypins I 4.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the garment I0 is applied to aninfant over the usual rubber or moisture-proof pants l5 and, therefore,may be fashioned from any suitable material such, for example, ascotton, wool, rayon or other synthetic materials. However, in theillustration shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the rubber pants l5 areomitted and, when used under such conditions, the garment is preferablyformed of rubber, synthetic rubber, or some equivalent moisture-proofmaterial. Also, in instances where the pants I5 are omitted, it ispreferred to locate a pad is of absorbent material on the inner face ofthe garment so that when the latter is applied to an infant, the padwill assume the required position.

The restraining means II comprises a pair of straps I1 and [8 formed ofany suitable flexible material having the requisite strength. The strapsextend transversely of each other in crossing relationship and are sewnor otherwise fixed at the zone of crossing to the outer face of thegarment substantially midway of the Waist-encircling portion IZ. Thislimited fastening area enables unobstructed application of the garmentto the infant and, at the same time, assures rigid- 1y securing thestraps to the garment. The straps extend substantial distances beyondopposite sides of the garment to enable tying or otherwise fastening thefree ends of the straps to suitable supporting structure and, ifdesired, suitable buckles the purpose of illustration, the supportingstrucfl ture shown is in the form of a conventional crib" 20 having theusual side and end walls.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the garment l is shown as applied to aninfant with the straps at the back of the garment so that the infant issupported in the crib On its back. It is possible,

however, to support the infant on its stomach the crib by merelyreversing the garment so that the straps are located at the front of thegarment. In any case, the infant is placed approximately in straps areattached to opposite sides of the crib at points spaced lengthwise ofthe crib. Inasmuch as the straps are fiiiedly secured to the garment 10on the infant, it-follows that they pre-' vent shifting movement of theinfant in either direction laterally or longitudinally of the crib.

Thus, the infant is prevented from crawling in the crib and injury ofthe infant by falling out of 01' against the walls of the crib isavoided. Also, in instances Where blankets or other coverings areproperly applied, the harness eliminates the danger of the infantdisplacing the coverings to an extent where exposure or smothering mayresult. It will further be noted that while the harness restrainsharmful movements of an infant, it permits unobstructed movement of thearms or legs and enables the infant to roll in either directionthroughout approximately 80. As a result, suflicient freedom of movementof the infant is al lowed to enable the infant to change positions atwill.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An infant harness comprising a garment having a waist-encirclingportion and having-a portion depending from the waist-encircling pertionintermediate the ends of the latter and adapted to be looped between thelegs of the inmm for attachment to the free ends of the waistencirclingportion, relatively narrow straps eX- tending transversely with respectto one another and diagonally with respect to the waist-encirclingportion at the outer side of the garment, said straps being secured atthe point of crossing to the garment intermediate the ends of thewaistencircling portion adjacent the juncture of the depending portionwith the waist-encircling portion.

2. An infant harness comprising a garment having a waist-encirclingportion and having a portion depending from the waist-encircling por'tion intermediate the ends of the latter and the center of the crib andthe free ends of the 1 ;adapted to be looped between the legs of theinfant for attachment to the free ends of the waistencircling portion,and relatively long straps extending diagonally withrespect to thelongitudinal center line of the depending portion, :and crossing oneanother at a point approximately on said center line adjacent thejuncture of the depending portion with the waist-encircling portion;said straps being positioned at the outersideof the garment andbeingsecured to the garmentat the point of crossing aforesaid.

HARRY I. STRANDHAGEN, REFERENCES CITED. The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent; I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 458,035 Miller Aug-18, 18911,048,033 Brown Dec. 24,1912 1,310,958 OConnor July. 22,1919 1,348,818MacCallum Aug; 3, 1920 Murphy Mar-..24,1936

